From 1 July 2026, the way employers pay super has changed.
Under the new Payday Super rules, super generally needs to reach an employee’s super fund within 7 business days of payday.
So what does that actually mean for you?
1. What you need to know as an employee
The biggest change is that you should receive your super much sooner.
Previously, employers could generally pay compulsory super quarterly. Under Payday Super, your super contributions are now linked much more closely to when you are paid.
If you’re paid fortnightly, for example, your employer will generally need to make sure the related super contribution reaches your super fund within 7 business days after payday.
Do employees need to do anything?
For most employees, there’s nothing you need to change.
Employees can check their payslip and super account to confirm that contributions are being received.
If you’ve recently changed super funds, make sure your employer has the correct details.
What if you have an SMSF?
The same rules apply if your employer pays your super into your SMSF.
Make sure your employer has the correct SMSF details, including the fund’s ABN, bank account details and electronic service address.
Having your own SMSF doesn’t change your employer’s obligation to pay super on time.
2. What you need to know as an employer
For employers, Payday Super is a much bigger change.
The old quarterly payment timetable is gone.
From 1 July 2026, your employees’ super contributions generally need to be received by their super fund within 7 business days of payday.
The important word here is received.
It isn’t enough to process the payment on day seven if it doesn’t reach the employee’s super fund in time.
Your payroll process may need to change
If you haven’t already done so, check that your payroll and super payment processes are set up for Payday Super.
Depending on how you pay employees, this could mean making super payments weekly, fortnightly or monthly rather than waiting until the end of the quarter.
The ATO Small Business Superannuation Clearing House has closed
If you previously used the ATO’s Small Business Superannuation Clearing House (SBSCH), it permanently closed from 1 July 2026.
You will need to use another SuperStream-compliant method to make your employees’ super payments.
Your payroll software may already provide this functionality.
What happens if super is late?
Late super payments can result in Super Guarantee Charge (SGC) obligations and additional costs.
This means employers need to pay attention not only to when wages are processed, but also to when the related super contributions actually reach the employee’s fund.
The simple takeaway
If you’re an employee: your super should now reach your super fund much closer to payday.
If you’re an employer: super is no longer something you can leave until the quarterly deadline. Your payroll and super payment processes need to meet the new Payday Super timeframes.
At Freedom Financial Solutions, we can assist with the accounting, payroll, taxation and SMSF compliance aspects of the Payday Super changes.
The information in this article is general information only and is provided for educational purposes. It does not constitute financial product advice, legal advice or advice specific to your circumstances. Taxation, payroll and superannuation requirements can depend on individual circumstances. You should obtain appropriate professional advice where required.